WASHINGTON - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin announced today that Baltimore City will receive a $2.9 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance to homeowners and rental property owners to help them eliminate lead-based paint from homes.

Baltimore City has a serious problem of exposure to lead-based paint in its older homes. Currently, 35.1 percent of children under age six have dangerous exposures to lead, which is eight times higher than the national average.

The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program is designed to help states eliminate lead-based paint hazards in all housing stock. The grant will also assist in prevention and community outreach so that homeowners can be in compliance with Maryland law on lead-based paint exposure.

"Baltimore has older housing stock and many of these homes present a serious lead-based paint hazard. Every year, more than 1,200 Baltimore City children become serious ill from lead-based paint poisoning. This is a problem that we know how to solve and this grant will assist homeowners in eliminating this preventable hazard," said Rep. Cardin . The Congressman has introduced legislation in the past to expand the federal role in lead-based paint abatement efforts.

"It is essential that cities like Baltimore with older housing stock have the ability and resources they need to eliminate the lead-based paint hazard which affects our youngest citizens," said Peter Beilenson, Commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department.